After winning in Mexico, Canada sends first place in the CONCACAF rankings
[ad_1]
Cyle Larin, who beat Canada twice, beat Mexico 2-1 in a frozen Edmonton on Tuesday, allowing the host to rise to the top of the 2022 CONCACAF World Cup standings.
Canada is the only undefeated team in eight games, with 16 points in first place, and the United States with 15 points after a 1-1 draw with Jamaica.
It is an unknown place for Canadian Cinderella, who had previously only qualified for the 1986 World Cup.
“It’s about what’s happening in this country and the direction the program is taking,” midfielder Atiba Hutchinson said after making a record 90th appearance in Canada. “Now we go to matches with a lot of confidence and that’s what I’ve always wanted for this team, for this country.”
The loss put an end to a disastrous swing across North America as they lost 2-0 to the U.S. on Friday and now find themselves with 14 points, tied with Panama and struggling to secure a place in the standings.
World Cup qualifiers: The Dutch have returned to the World Cup; Turkish elimination, Ukraine
World Cup qualifiers: Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon qualifiers arrive, off Ivory Coast
The top three in the eight teams will automatically qualify for Qatar 2022, with the fourth-placed qualifier for another position in an intercontinental play-off.
They were welcomed in the Great White North of Mexico, mostly by 50,000 Canadian fans gathered at the frozen Commonwealth Stadium for what was one of the coldest matches ever played in the CONCACAF region. Temperatures hovered around minus-8 Celsius (18 Fahrenheit).
Canada rewarded their fans with a stoppage time goal in the first half when Larin quietly inserted a loose ball when goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was unable to control Alistair Johnston’s long-range attempt.
Larin found himself right in the 52nd minute with a great free kick by Stephen Eustaquio, the team plunging into the snow banks wrinkling the pitch.
Hector Herrera’s 90th-minute header put an end to the competition. Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan denied Mexico the equalizer when he removed a goal from the goal.
In Kingston, the United States made it first in the 11th minute, through Tim Weah, 11 minutes before Michail Antonio equalized for Jamaica from a distance, his rocket went under the crossbar into the hands of goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
In Panama City, Panama scored goals from Cecilio Waterman and Freddy Gondola in the second half two minutes apart and beat El Salvador 2-1, as the home side were stunned when Jairo Henriquez scored in the opening minute.
In San Jose, Gerson Torres scored in stoppage time to beat Costa Rica 2-1 against Honduras.
[ad_2]
Source link